“Malcolm Turnbull has talked about having economic vision for a brighter future, and it’s hard to see any prudence in WestCONnex – a big polluting toll road with no business case and an escalating budget blowout,” said WestCONnex Action Group organiser Janet Dandy-Ward.

“We welcome Malcolm Turnbull’s words that he wants to lead ‘a government that recognises the opportunities of the future and is putting in place the policies and plans for them’.

“We are now seeing cities around the world rip down spaghetti interchanges and urban motorways because they grind economic progress to a halt, and only serve to line the pockets of toll operators.

“Malcolm Turnbull now has the opportunity to shape the largest infrastructure expenditure in the nation, and he has the opportunity to see what a dog of a deal WestCONnex is for taxpayers.

“WestCONnex is an opportunity for Turnbull to differentiate himself from the 1950s style transport policies of Abbott, which simply dredged up an old road plan that collected dust for decades because it was bad for business.

“Turnbull has talked about being consultative and we expect he will now listen to the transport experts who have presented a master plan to future-proof Australia.

“If Turnbull is legitimate in differentiating himself from Abbott, from Labor, and wanting to be a consultative PM, then he must listen to expert transport planners and help stop the WestCONnex toll road,” said Janet Dandy Ward.